Feet

NGale

I have found since I started cycling again and using SPDs that I am suffering with sore feet. now it should be the position of the clip on my SPD which I am looking at, but more than anything I am getting dry feet and peeling skin as well as the feeling that the balls of my feet are always brused.

I have tried some of the foot moisturizing solutions but so far they don't seem to be touching it so any ideas??

tardington

When I'm off the bike for a day or so (like today) and I've been having itchy feet, I wear my toe socks. My gf gave me them btw! They seem to let the air right into between your toes. 8)

See what you mean about the clipless thing - seem to get much better power transfer, but that means less padding between foot and road vibration...

itboffin

NGale wrote:

I have found since I started cycling again and using SPDs that I am suffering with sore feet. now it should be the position of the clip on my SPD which I am looking at, but more than anything I am getting dry feet and peeling skin as well as the feeling that the balls of my feet are always brused.

I have tried some of the foot moisturizing solutions but so far they don't seem to be touching it so any ideas??

TMI :P

tardington

She didn't mention the smell, did she!

NGale

tardie wrote:

She didn't mention the smell, did she!

I have surprising odourless feet

jonginge

(feeling of) Bruised feet: surprisingly common with SPDs due to the small size of the cleat, which concentrates the pressure to a small area of the foot. This is exacerbated when using shoes with a not very rigid sole. I got this when I was commuting in (not very good) MTB shoes, went away when I got stiffer soles. What shoes do you have?

Dry feet: no odour suggests it's not a fungal thing, which is good I'd try a moisturiser with vitamin E, if you're not already.

lost_in_thought

I was told (and shown) by the fella at epic that you shouldn't be able to bend the soles of your shoes with your hands unless you're arnie - as JG says, this may be the issue with the feet.

As for the dry skin, I had a similar thing on my feet a while ago, cleared up by itself after a week or so.

cjcp

What JG said re sore feet.

Not athlete's foot, is it? If not, I've heard of some people putting moisturiser on before they go to bed, then socks.

NGale

JonGinge wrote:

(feeling of) Bruised feet: surprisingly common with SPDs due to the small size of the cleat, which concentrates the pressure to a small area of the foot. This is exacerbated when using shoes with a not very rigid sole. I got this when I was commuting in (not very good) MTB shoes, went away when I got stiffer soles. What shoes do you have?

Dry feet: no odour suggests it's not a fungal thing, which is good I'd try a moisturiser with vitamin E, if you're not already.

At the moment I have a pair of dhb M1 shoes which don't seem to be a problem although I could be wrong.

I can't use Vit E products unfortutanly, whenever I've use it I come out on massive sores on my skin and the thought of that on my feet dosen't appeal to me

My next option is vasaline intensive care or sudocreme

lost_in_thought

My DHB shoes were classed 'far too bendy' by epic, and since I got some more my feet barely ache at all on long rides.

For the skin thing - what I had (massive risk of TMI) was almost like my feet were shedding skin, like I'd badly burnt them somehow but not painful. Very odd indeed, tried moisturising to no avail, but it went away all by itself. Very odd.

DonDaddyD

NGale wrote:

I have found since I started cycling again and using SPDs that I am suffering with sore feet. now it should be the position of the clip on my SPD which I am looking at, but more than anything I am getting dry feet and peeling skin as well as the feeling that the balls of my feet are always brused.

I have tried some of the foot moisturizing solutions but so far they don't seem to be touching it so any ideas??

I keep forgetting you're not a dude.. damn avatar.

OK something relevant.

From the off it sounds like Athletes Foot. Many reasons can be the cause: Caught it from someone else, sweat from the shoe/sock - not changing them enough. If it is take it to the doctor....

I had it when I was younger, Doctor gave me a powder worked like a dream...

IF it isn't could be that your foot simply needs to be moisturised more often as the constant exercise/sweat is drying it out... I moisturise (can't believe I'm writing this) every day and make sure to use baby oil on the feet more so now... nothing worse that dry tough feet.....

On the subject of soreness, I have fallen arches, badly fallen arches (all my shoes curve inwards where my ankes bend in) I use SPD-sl because of the wide platform as they seem to provide support of the ball of my foot which often compensates for my arches. I get very little if at all any soreness in my cycling shoes compared to all my other proper trainers/shoes....

Hope this helps....

This sounds like Athletes Foot:

For the skin thing - what I had (massive risk of TMI) was almost like my feet were shedding skin, like I'd badly burnt them somehow but not painful. Very odd indeed, tried moisturising to no avail,

Not picking on you there LiTs, it happens, especially in sports - constant use of shoes/socks where sweat builds, bacteria can grow and cause fungal infection....

lost_in_thought

@DDD - maybe! I am an athlete after all

Bhima

I had this problem the other month - i'd raised my saddle a bit but forgot to move the cleats forward on the shoe to compensate, so it was quite hard to reach the bottom of the pedal stroke when sat on the bike, until I moved them forwards a bit (to the ball of my foot, where the most power can be transferred).

The saddle height change was so subtle, it took me 15 miles to work out what the problem was. :? I didn't think it would make such a difference! It felt like the shoes were too tight and were crushing my feet in. Of course, when off the bike to check my feet, I couldn't work out what the hell was going on!

I'd try and get the cleats on the ball of your feet, then move the saddle height to a point where your knee is almost straight when at the bottom of the rotation. You probably have it set up like this anyway, but it's worth double-checking everything.

Ngalbrai

Definately stiffer shoes will help, as will a pedal with a wider platform, though proper road pedals as opposed to double sided spds can be a b*stard to clip into sometimes. Do you have flat feet? Do you use orthotics? Do you put them in your cycling shoes?

Go see a podiatrist if its causing you discomfort!

NGale

Ngalbrai wrote:

Definately stiffer shoes will help, as will a pedal with a wider platform, though proper road pedals as opposed to double sided spds can be a b*stard to clip into sometimes. Do you have flat feet? Do you use orthotics? Do you put them in your cycling shoes?

Go see a podiatrist if its causing you discomfort!

feet wise I am the opposite, I have very high arches and a high instep. I do use orthotics but that's to prevent shin splints and back ache which hadn't been an issue on the bike thankfully

as for the peeling skin front, at the moment I am using my assos chamois creme which while not an idea solution is doing ok so far

NGale

DonDaddyD wrote:

NGale wrote:

I have found since I started cycling again and using SPDs that I am suffering with sore feet. now it should be the position of the clip on my SPD which I am looking at, but more than anything I am getting dry feet and peeling skin as well as the feeling that the balls of my feet are always brused.

I have tried some of the foot moisturizing solutions but so far they don't seem to be touching it so any ideas??

I keep forgetting you're not a dude.. damn avatar.

When I woke up this morning I was still most definitely a lass. I may be dating a sailor, but I think even he would be asking questions

DonDaddyD

NGale wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

NGale wrote:

I have found since I started cycling again and using SPDs that I am suffering with sore feet. now it should be the position of the clip on my SPD which I am looking at, but more than anything I am getting dry feet and peeling skin as well as the feeling that the balls of my feet are always brused.

I have tried some of the foot moisturizing solutions but so far they don't seem to be touching it so any ideas??

I keep forgetting you're not a dude.. damn avatar.

When I woke up this morning I was still most definitely a lass.

Why what happend!!??!!

:twisted:

On the subject of the peeling feet... you may be able to get something more specific for it at the chemist. Also try to keep your feet dry (i.e dry them after the shower/before putting socks on - I always used to skip that part when I was younger and in a rush... it meant that my socks were drying my feet - which led to athlete's foot). It's also important (if only from an aesthetic POV) to keep feet well moisturised, nothing worse than dry feet and crackly heels...